Chapter 33: Kill Enemies on the Battlefield

In his impression, grandma had always been a kind and dignified person, but that time, grandma's expression changed.

He quickly gave silver and sent that Cao family person away.

"That... there's something we don't know about." Jiang Yun Chu thought, and that was the only guess.

"Let's talk about the Cao family first." She thought, these matters still needed the Imperial Consort to speak up; their guessing couldn't yield a result.

"This time, the Cao family acted, but they actually didn't want to make a big deal; they were just probing our Wang Fu's intentions."

"The Imperial Consort's departure might not be without giving us a choice; she, the elderly lady, stays in seclusion at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and neither His Majesty nor the Cao family can disturb her retreat."

"Without the Imperial Consort's entanglement, then we……"

Jiang Yun Chu said this and looked toward Ning Hanmo.

Ning Hanmo's eyes brightened, "We can hold nothing back."

The two exchanged a glance, developing a tacit understanding unknown to others.

Even years later, Ning Hanmo retained this habit, but when hesitant, he had only one person to confide in: Jiang Yun Chu.

"This time, hitting the complaint drum, did you think of that?" Ning Hanmo realized.

Jiang Yun Chu gave him an affirming look, "Smart."

"Keep going." She encouraged.

"The Cao family has already made a move; this matter, they definitely won't let it rest, so you should strike first?" Ning Hanmo probed, keeping his eyes on her expression to judge if he was right, but she showed no expression.

If he could think of this point, Jiang Yun Chu was already quite satisfied.

"Not entirely."

"You forgot, there's still the Third Prince!" Jiang Yun Chu reminded.

Ning Hanmo was a bit dazed, "Third Prince? He isn't……"

"A neutral attitude?" Before the little brat could finish speaking, Jiang Yun Chu voiced his doubt.

"Remember, the timing of one's appearance is very important."

"When you were getting beaten, he didn't appear."

"When I appeared, he also didn't appear."

"Precisely, when those Cao Young Masters were getting beaten, he appeared."

She smiled, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, then looked at Ning Hanmo and said, "Ning Hanmo, we can believe in coincidence, but we must have the ability to overturn coincidence."

"His timing could be coincidence, but we must not treat it as coincidence; better to overestimate than to misjudge."

Better to overestimate than to misjudge.

Ning Hanmo kept these words in mind, then bit by bit implanted them into his heart.

This time, he understood all of her words.

Every point he didn't understand received an answer.

"I saved you, that's true; my anger, that's also true."

"But I also want, through this matter, to tell the world that as long as I, Jiang Yun Chu, am a day in the Regent Prince's Manor, no one dares to move; if anyone moves, I will fight to the death."

When she said these words, her eyes bore killing intent, with no concealment.

The little brat watched, heart pounding; from the day Jiang Yun Chu entered the Wang Fu, he felt he could see a different her every day.

This side of her, he saw for the first time……

"Ning Hanmo, remember: the kind are bullied, the good horse is ridden."

"Never forgive those who have harmed you; moreover, either endure or eradicate the root."

Today everything felt like a dream.

Ning Hanmo felt, encountering things he had never touched before; today his mind worked more than before, accepting different matters and also feeling different people.

"What should I do from now on?" Ning Hanmo felt somewhat lost about the future; he suddenly didn't want to be the "rice worm" she referred to.

He never imagined that, in his view, the immeasurably lofty Regent Prince's Manor hid so many affairs behind it.

He also didn't know that grandma and Jiang Yun Chu were supporting all this with such hardship.

And what was he doing?

He was taking companions to horse races, cricket fights, and drinking at taverns.

These should have been his burdens; they were waiting for him to grow up.

Jiang Yun Chu didn't expect him to ask such a question today; she felt she could get to know him anew.

"What do you want to do in the future?"

Ning Hanmo thought, and in his mind there had always been a tall figure, a sharp sword, a broad back.

"Kill enemies on the battlefield."

Four characters, not thought through, just that image—unknown when it had taken root in his mind.

After saying that, Ning Hanmo looked toward Jiang Yun Chu; this vast Regent Prince's Manor, he would have to shoulder it……

He could not let Jiang Yun Chu and grandma keep running around for the Wang Fu any longer.

"Forget it, I'll study." Ning Hanmo felt a bit dispirited.

Just as he spoke those words, a voice sounded in Jiang Yun Chu's system.

【Ding, reformation progress 100%, reward one thousand points, unlock Space Redemption System (Intermediate).】

Jiang Yun Chu, who was about to speak, suddenly froze and furrowed her brows.

It was merely the system's prompt, interrupting her train of thought.

"What's wrong?" The little brat, now changed, looked concerned.

Jiang Yun Chu shook her head, "You don't need to consider the Wang Fu; worst case, I'm still here."

"You know~ I'm not that easy to bully."

This……, you should be deeply aware.

I'll give you a day to think; tell me at breakfast tomorrow what you want to do.

Their stepmother-son talk lasted a full hour; no one knew what they discussed—not even the hidden guards were present in the room.

After Jiang Yun Chu left Hanmo Pavilion, she went straight back to Rhyme Courtyard. Recently, the stewards of each shop have become much more honest; every few days they bring the account books to the Wang Fu for the Princess Consort to review.

Half of the shopkeepers have already been dismissed by the Princess Consort; moreover, those people have solid evidence—either they obediently slink away, or the Princess Consort, out of respect for their elderly status, will not hold it against them, giving them a way to survive.

But if she encounters someone who is oblivious and still causing trouble, she won't be polite; she will report those who ought to be reported to the officials.

Not only were they arrested, but they also have to compensate for the losses the Wang Fu has suffered these years.

Furthermore, following the investigative leads, she discovered several people from the Cao Fu; for those Cao Fu people, she showed no mercy, directly sending both the people and the accounts to the magistrate's office.

"Young Master, it's time to go to Rhyme Courtyard for a meal." Little Shunzi looked at his young master, worrying as he reminded.

Since the Princess Consort left, the Young Master has sat here motionless; he and Little Dengzi have been waiting half a day. Usually the Young Master can't help but talk nonstop, but today he seems to have taken a dumb pill—no movement, no speech—making people somewhat fearful.

"Go to Rhyme Courtyard and tell Jiang Yun Chu that I won't be going tonight, and there's no need to keep the small kitchen warm." Ning Hanmo, at his young age, pondered all that had happened; before, he only knew how to play, and no matter what trouble he caused, his grandmother would bear it.